Resolved: Live your Legacy is the theme for the 2017 Women’s Retreat of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO), April 21-22. Women will be given the opportunity to grow in their walk with the Lord and leave a legacy at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, located near Davis.
Keynote speakers Lina Abujamra, Annie Downs and Jen Wilkin are popular authors and have been favorite speakers at other events. “We are excited to have each of these ladies back to Oklahoma for our retreat. They are just as excited to see what God will do this weekend,” said Amy Cordova, BGCO women’s missions and ministries specialist.
Abujamra is a pediatric ER doctor, but her main passion is telling others about Jesus and the love He has for each of them. She was born in Lebanon, but moved to Chicago when she was 15.
Abujamra has authored two books Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended, Stripped: When God’s Call Turns from Yes to Why Me? and Resolved: 10 Ways to Stand Strong and Live What You Believe. She started a blog ministry that has grown into a nonprofit organization called Living With Power, which provides podcasts in both English and Arabic.
“The highlight of my year is the BGCO Women’s Retreat,” she exclaimed. “I cannot wait to see what God will do in the hearts of a bunch of Oklahoma women hungry for His presence!”
Downs is an author and speaker based in Nashville, Tenn. She uses her writing to highlight the “everyday goodness of a real and present God.” She had authored two books Let’s All Be Brave, Perfectly Unique, Speak Love and Looking for Lovely: Collecting Moments that Matter. Weaving together personal stories, humor and Scripture, Downs invites her readers to experience fulfilled lives with a God who made them on purpose and loves them deeply.
Wilkin is a wife, mom to four and an advocate for women to love God with their minds through the faithful study of His Word. She is a speaker, writer and Bible teacher, living in Flower Mound, Texas. Her books include None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing) and Women in the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds. She also has written Bible studies on Sermon on the Mount and 1 Peter.
New this year, all super seminars will take place in the tabernacle. This is a change made in response to feedback requesting a more central breakout option and an opportunity for more seating in the breakouts. These breakouts will be led by the Women’s Retreat keynote speakers on Friday afternoon.
Worship during general sessions will be led by The MET Collective, from Metropolitan Church in Houston, Texas. The MET Collective has frequently led worship through music at Falls Creek during youth weeks.
Comedian Michael Jr. from the movie War Room will provide entertainment on Friday night. He tours the coutry performing and is hailed as one of today’s most gifted comedians. Michael Jr. will also perform at the Men’s Rewired Retreat the following week.
Recreation will be available Friday afternoon including the zip line, high ropes at the amphitheater and lawn games. “Recreation has become a highlight of the Women’s Retreat, and many look forward to this part of retreat.” said Cordova. The staple 5k run will take place Saturday morning. The run follows the same harrowing route that is used during the youth weeks of Falls Creek.
The annual offering will be collected Saturday morning. In conjunction with the theme “Resolved: Live Your Legacy” and in honor of the 100th year of Falls Creek, the offering will support the creation of the Centennial Prayer Garden at the Three Crosses, a landmark location on the grounds and a popular hiking destination.
The goal of the ministry project is to establish an inviting place for visitors to congregate and grow in their walk with the Lord.
“We have an exciting opportunity and responsibility to create a lasting place for future generations to know and experience the love of Christ at Falls Creek,” Cordova said. “What a joy it will be to see this space utilized because of our sacrificial giving.”
Early registration deadline is March 23, and the cost is $75 per person. A special price of $35 is offered to girls ages 13-18 who come with an adult. The price will increase to $85 for all ages on March 24. Registration will close on April 3.
For online registration and complete retreat details, visit www.bgcowomen.org.
